The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-01
THREE-FINGERED JOHNNY.
bY W. WENTWORTH.

dat knew what made him so out OF
Hne common run. 1t seemed, in sort
0f. way, to be all over him. At the
time thought there was n cast in
ONE OF his eyes. But in reality there
wasn't. His lght.colored hair grew
la rough tufts, sticking up in the odd
est manner; and he had shamblng,
loose.put-together appearance, agood
deal as if it would be the easiest thing
IN the world TO disjoint himself and
saet the separate pieces to one side
without the least trouble or incon-
venience.
But the oldest thing OF all was
.Johnny's-Johuny Liebenthal was
his right name, but he was called just
.Iohnny-the oldest thing about him
vas his laugh He seemed to laugh all
ON one side OF his face. TO save my
nee: / couldn't have told why. Then,
he had only three fngures-or rather,
two fingers and thumb-on his left
hand. The middle fingers had been
cut off close to the palm.
That was how he got the name OF
-arThree- fingered Johnny" He got it
on the spot, the first day he showed
up il Che factory, from little Smagg,
the comical coot from California. And
right away it was decided that he was
especially intended to be the standing
butt OF the shop.
"Three fingered Johnny" was the
opening shot, followed by continu-
Gus peal of slurs and rasping, rough
lokes. "His eyes buzzing round,
hooking six ways for Sunday" one
shouted. Then another would howl.
ooh, scissors see him laugh, one side
of his Jaw left-handedi' And a third
one "Sam, borrow one OF his legs for
a shoemaker's sign; it only hangs by
awire."
Unfortunately for Johnny, it was
quickly discovered that he was ex-
Eremely sensitive, and from this he be-
came pegged at ten times more az
gravatingly, until the poor lads life
was n burden to him.
"Hit him AGAIN. He's got no friends.
This from Smagg, at the close OF q
set spell OF roasting that had almost
driven Johnny wild. He was like an
animal Mt bay among pack OF saw
age dogs, utterly powerless to help
himself, for Borlag, the foreman, who
should have interfered in his behalf,
took sneaking delight in watching the
torture, and seized every SLY oppor-
Gunity TO EGG it on"
Poor Johnny; he was only little
over twenty years old, and had UNI
doubtedly been kicked about and cow
ed down till he was afraid to show
defiant resentment of the shameful
Sreatment.
One day when he had been more
than usually goaded he ran up stairs
into the room OF George Fanch, one
of the tuners, the moment the steam
whistle blew the evening hour OF quit
ting.
Eanch was the foremost man in the
shop. He'd been through college, in
tending to study ior a doctor, but on
account OF his health had had to
change to his present occupation. He
earned big wages, dressed like gentle
man, and was q first chap man every
way.
When Johnny reached his room he
was all over in such tremor CT ex-
citement that the tears actually stood
IN his eyes, and he trembled so he had
80 lean against the wall and gasp for
breath. AS soon as he could speak
he choked out the words
"For Gods sake. tell me how | can
beat them fellows!-show 'em Pm not
the stupid fool they taxa me for.
And most OF all show me how to get
even with that mean whelp, Borlagl"
"What makes the foreman so extra
down on you johnny" Fanch in
quired.
because | wouldn't set up an
eighth OF beer. IL wasn't on account
cared about the money, but prom
Used mother would never have any
ching to do with liquor that makes
men drunk"
He could have added that his faith
er's drunken habits had RUNE their
home, made his mothers life one I'M
broken reign OF restitution and mis-
cry. learned that afterwards, as !
did that Johnny, ever since his tenth
yearly selling papers, as a shoe
black, in every way by which he could
earn an honest dollar-had been the
culet support of his mother from the
day she was left a penniless widow to
The period OF her death As was in
evitable, this early introduction into
the role of enforced winning had
caused sad lack OF educational oppor-
tunities. In fact, when he came to the
factory he cnnld hearty write his